Car-coupling



(No Mdel.)

s. J. FILsoN.

GAR GOUPLING.

No. 274,749. Patented Ma,r z7, y183.

` Samuel 153 Vaas,

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE,`

SAMUEL J. FILSON, OF MAYSVILIJE, KENTUGKY.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 274,749, dated March 27, 1883. l.Application filed February 28, 1883. (No modeLl i To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL J. FiLsoN, a citizen of the United States,residin g at Maysville,in the county of Mason and State of Kentucky,have invented new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to that class of carcouplings in which the `draw-bars of opposite cars are each provided with a pair of spring jaws.

The object of my invention is to provide a novel arrangement of hooked jaws, whereby when two draw-bars are brought together the jaws of one stand at right angles tothe other, and each jaw engages a recess in the adjacent draw-bar, thus coustitutin g an efficient coupling, which is not liable to become accidentally uncoupled. This I accomplish by the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the drawlbars of two railroad-cars,connected by means of my improved automatic coupler. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of my improved car-coupling, showing the spring-jaws open. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the same, showing` one jaw thrown outward and the other disconnected from the draw-bar. Fig. 4 is a side elevation,illustrating one manner of operating the car-coupling, or opening the spring-jaws from the platform or top of the car.

Like letters of reference are used to design ate the samevparts throughout the several views.

The draw-barsA A, formiu g part of my coupling mechanism, may be constructed of wood or metal in any approved manner. These drawbars are cored or recessed, as shown at a, for the reception of the movable or operative parts of the coupling, which comprise the springjaws BB and a cam or eccentric,0,thatis arranged between said jaws. The jaws B B are each formed with a hooked end, b, and a shank, c; or, if preferred, the shank c may beymade in a separate piece that is bolted or otherwise se-v curely connected to the jaw of which it forms a part. Thesejaws B B, or their shank ends,

are pivoted within the recess a of the draw-bar` on each side of the abutments d and e, that are integral with the draw-bar and limit the inward movement of the j aws when closed. The inner sides or edges of the jaws B B are straight for nearly their entire length, so that when closed they bear firmly against the straight or regular surface of the abutment d, and the corresponding portion of the abutment e. of the latter abutmen t, however, are straight or rectangular only atits forward end for a certain distance, and then graduallyincline inward to its rear end, to afi'ord sufficient room for the necessary movements ofthe inner tapering ends of the shanks c c in opening thejaws.

At the rear ot' the abutment e is placed a spring, D, that maybe made in the spiral form shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or of other convenient character. This spring is arranged to bear outward against the ends of the shanks c c, so as to close thejaws B B when the said pair ofjaws are relieved from the pressure of the cam C. Instead of a spiral spring, it is obvious that a V-shaped spring or an elliptic spring may be employed to accomplish the same object. The tension of the spring is sufficient to close the jaws B B and hold them firmly against the abutments d e, so that when the hookedjaws of two opposite draw-bars are coupled or engaged, either with each other or in the manner to be hereinafter explained, the cars to which such draw-bars are attached will not be liable to become uncoupled by jerks or jars.

The coupling-jaws B B, when closed, may be opened by means of the cam C, that is pivoted in the draw-bar between said jaws, the partial rotation of the cam exerting an outward pressure against the jaws capable of overcoming the pressure of the spring. Itis obvious that in- Thesides stead of the cam an eccentric or equivalent de- 4, that connects by means of a chain, g, with a rod or shaft, F, extending to the platform or top of the car, and provided with a hand-wheel or crank by which power is applied, so as to partially rotate the cam and actuate the coup IOC 2 Y I averne ling-jaws. When the lever E is used, pins h may be provided to limit its movement iu opening the jaws. The opposite sides of each draw-bar are provided with recesses or sockets k k, and when the draw-bars come together the hooked jaws ot' one interlock with the recesses or sockets of the other. The position ot1 the parts when thus coupled is shown in Fig. l, in which thejaws of each draw-bar are securely engaged inthe socketed end of the opposite draw-bar. The draw-bars are thus coupled in such a manner as to allow sufficient play, and the coupling-jaws, while tirmly closed by their respective springs, may'yet be readily opened by means of the cams C and their actuating mechanism, so as to effect an instantaneous .uncoupling whenever desired.

In order to facilitate theengagement of the hookedjaws B B with the socket or recess 7c of the opposite draw-bar, each of said draw-'bars is chamfered lor beveled atthe end, as shown at m m, Fig. 3, the chami'ered surfaces termi nating at the margin ot' the socket lr, and enabling the curved or rounded ends ot' the hooked jaws to slip readily into engagement with the sockets 7c k, when the opposite draw- .bars are brought together. The inwardlycurved ends ofthe hooks b b, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, are also such as to enable them -to readily passeachother when brought forcibly together.

It will be observed that the opposite drawbars A Aare arranged in such a manner that the hooked jaws'of each are'at right angles to the corresponding jaws of the other, the recess or socket 7c in one draw-bar being vertical, while in the other the socket or recess is horizontal. This position or relative arrangement ofthe couplings is necessary in order that adjacent cars'may be connected, and for the purpose of securing a proper correspondence between the coupling mechanism of the cars to be coupled the draw-bars may be hung in such a manner as to be capable of being turned or adjusted to the proper position with relation to the coupling-hooks of the adjacent car. When a railroad-car provided with couplings of this description is to be connected to a car having the ordinary link-and-pin coupling, the hooked ends b b of the spring-jaws B B will readily engage with such link.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim iS- The two draw'bars, each having recesses or messes.

SAMUEL J. lILSON. Vitnesses J AMEs L. N oRRIs, J. A.' RUTHERFORD. 

